Uploaded March 2022 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
The Sony CDP-CX355, a 300 disc CD player with lots of tricks up it’s sleeve. While charming, these units are notorious for their belt issues.
This video is simply sharing with you, a casual afternoon in 2020 where I replace the belts with some rubber bands. While using rubber bands is far from ideal, ordering proper drive belts and having to wait weeks and months to receive them is also not ideal (to impatient people like me). Rubber bands work fine as long as you are willing to accept that you’ll have to replace them a lot more frequently. The proper drive belts last much longer.
Drive belts aside, these stackers are fantastic for any Compact Disc enthusiast because ones entire collection can be accessible with the scroll of a wheel and the touch of a button. The keyboard input and automatic album name saving from CD Text means there is no need for the old fashioned piece of paper nearby with the CD list. The digital output (optical) they have means one can just use it as a “Source” as the audiophiles call it. You can then get a more impressive DAC to do the heavy lifting.
I’ve very much enjoyed mine over the years and while I’m no audiophile, I’ve always found the sound is balanced, sharp and clear. I’ve mainly used it over the years as a Digital Source and handed the Digital to Analogue conversion to my ancient but beloved Yamaha RX-V657 AV Receiver. Red Book CD’s still sound fantastic through any speakers but I must say I truly loved how they sounded with my old WM-1000XM3’s hooked up to that Yamaha amp. Lying down on the floor next to the stacker and listening to albums like “Moon Safari” by Air was really special.
—— Timestamps
00:00 Intro
01:54 Disassembly
06:26 Conclusion
09:47 Mailbox
—— Music
Main Menu - Dog’s Life (2004)
By Alistair Lindsay
youtube.com/watch?v=b9KfvUGn0rE
Uploaded to YouTube by RingsOfGeonosis
——
Farmhouse - Dog’s Life (2004)
By Alistair Lindsay
youtube.com/watch?v=ZpqhUG_CpU8
Uploaded to YouTube by RingsOfGeonosis
——
Miami
By Oxter
youtube.com/watch?v=Eoo3WwbjlcE
Uploaded to YouTube by Oxter Music
——
Farmhouse - Dog’s Life (2004)
By Alistair Lindsay
youtube.com/watch?v=QuAngMC3gB0
Uploaded to YouTube by RingsOfGeonosis
——
Main Menu - Mariokart DS (2005)
By Shinobu Nagata
youtube.com/watch?v=wileEQvL4lQ
Uploaded to YouTube by DeoxysPrime
——
GHGtv - ep68
The Sony CDP-CX355, a 300 disc CD player with lots of tricks up it’s sleeve. While charming, these units are notorious for their belt issues.
This video is simply sharing with you, a casual afternoon in 2020 where I replace the belts with some rubber bands. While using rubber bands is far from ideal, ordering proper drive belts and having to wait weeks and months to receive them is also not ideal (to impatient people like me). Rubber bands work fine as long as you are willing to accept that you’ll have to replace them a lot more frequently. The proper drive belts last much longer.
Drive belts aside, these stackers are fantastic for any Compact Disc enthusiast because ones entire collection can be accessible with the scroll of a wheel and the touch of a button. The keyboard input and automatic album name saving from CD Text means there is no need for the old fashioned piece of paper nearby with the CD list. The digital output (optical) they have means one can just use it as a “Source” as the audiophiles call it. You can then get a more impressive DAC to do the heavy lifting.
I’ve very much enjoyed mine over the years and while I’m no audiophile, I’ve always found the sound is balanced, sharp and clear. I’ve mainly used it over the years as a Digital Source and handed the Digital to Analogue conversion to my ancient but beloved Yamaha RX-V657 AV Receiver. Red Book CD’s still sound fantastic through any speakers but I must say I truly loved how they sounded with my old WM-1000XM3’s hooked up to that Yamaha amp. Lying down on the floor next to the stacker and listening to albums like “Moon Safari” by Air was really special.
—— Timestamps
00:00 Intro
01:54 Disassembly
06:26 Conclusion
09:47 Mailbox
—— Music
Main Menu - Dog’s Life (2004)
By Alistair Lindsay
youtube.com/watch?v=b9KfvUGn0rE
Uploaded to YouTube by RingsOfGeonosis
——
Farmhouse - Dog’s Life (2004)
By Alistair Lindsay
youtube.com/watch?v=ZpqhUG_CpU8
Uploaded to YouTube by RingsOfGeonosis
——
Miami
By Oxter
youtube.com/watch?v=Eoo3WwbjlcE
Uploaded to YouTube by Oxter Music
——
Farmhouse - Dog’s Life (2004)
By Alistair Lindsay
youtube.com/watch?v=QuAngMC3gB0
Uploaded to YouTube by RingsOfGeonosis
——
Main Menu - Mariokart DS (2005)
By Shinobu Nagata
youtube.com/watch?v=wileEQvL4lQ
Uploaded to YouTube by DeoxysPrime
——
GHGtv - ep68
